Web severing means for web splicing machines



Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. GILES 3,

WEB SEVERING MEANS FOR WEB SPLICING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. W/LL/AM HUDSON G/ZES Feb. 28, 1967 w. H. GILES3,306,801

WEB SEVERING MEANS FOR WEB SPLICING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCDR. W/zz MM H005 0N 6/1. E 5

A TTORA/E Y Feb, 2, 197 w. H. GILES 3,305,801

WEB SEVERING MEANS FOR WEB SPLICING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WILL/AM HUDSON 6/! 5 A TTOP/VE V Feb. 28, 1967w. H. GILES WEB SEVERING MEANS FOR WEB SPLICI'NG MACHINES Filed Sept.14, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILL/4M HUDSON G/LES United StatesPatent 3,306,801 WEB SEVERING MEANS FOR WEB SPLICING MACHINES William H.Giles, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Nu-Roll C0rp., Mineola, N.Y., acorporation of New York Filed Sept. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 223,709 2 Claims.(Cl. 156--353) This invention relates to a web splicing machine forsplicing a new web of paper to an exhausted web, and particularly tocontrol means for coordinating the web severing mechanism on thesplicing machine with the web cutting mechanism on the wrapping machinesupplied by the splicing machine.

When a paper web is supplied to a wrapping machine from a web splicingmachine it is essential that the splicing of a new web to an exhaustedweb be coordinated with the wrapping machine web cutter so that theprinted matter on the severed sheet in the splicing machine becoordinated with the sheet cutting mechanism in the wrapping machine.

This invention has for its salient object to coordinate the severingmeans on a splicing machine with the web cutter in the wrapping machinesupplied 'by the splicing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide control means forcoordinating the web severing means of a web splicing machine with theweb cutting means on the wrapping machine supplied with a web from thesplicing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide web severing a splicingmechanism so constructed. and controlled that the splice can be madewith the printed pattern on the tail end of the exhausted web alinedperfectly with the printed pattern on the leading edge of the new supplyroll.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part ofthis application, and in which FIG. 1 is an elevational view, somewhatdiagrammatic, of a web splicing machine having clamping and perforatingmeans for engaging the exhausted web;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view taken substantial- 1y on line 33of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 taken atright angles to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3,parts being omitted and being shown in a different position of movementthereof;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the clamping and severingmechanism in operative position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of theclamp and severing blade shown in operative position to clamp the endportion of the exhausted web, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational view taken substantially on line 88 ofFIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the controls betweenthe splicing machine and the wrapping machine for coordinating theaction of the clamp and tear blade in the splicing machine with theknife or web cutter in the wrapping machine.

The invention, briefly described, consists of means for linking orcoordinating the severing means for severing the exhausted strip in asplicing machine with the cutting knife of a wrapping machine suppliedfrom the splicing machine in such a manner that the printed matter onthe wrapper formed of the severed sheet in the wrapping "ice machinewill be correctly positioned on the package wrapped. The splicingmachine in connection with which the invention is shown is soconstructed that when the web from one supply roll is exhausted the feedfor said web is automatically discontinued and the feed for theauxiliary web or other supply roll is automatically connected. Whenthese webs reach primary feed rolls they are spliced together. Thepresent invention has to do with the severing of the exhausted web andthe control of clamping and severing mechanism in such a manner that thesevering of the web is coordinated with the operation of the web cutterin the wrapping machine supplied from the splicing mechanism.

Further details of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

The splicing mechanism per se forms no part of the present invention andis covered in applicants copending application Serial No. 29,918, filedMay 18, 1960. This mechanism is shown somewhat diagrammatically in FIG.1, in which are shown two supply rolls 20 and 21, primary feeding rolls22 and 23 from which the paper web is delivered to a wrapping machine,and two sets of secondary feed rolls 24, 25 and 26, 27. The secondaryfeed rolls 25 and 26 are mounted on bell-crank levers 30 and 31 whichare pivoted on shafts 32 and 33 of feed rolls 22 and 23. The other endsof the bell-crank levers 30 and 31 have mounted thereon rolls 34 and 35which contact and are driven by the primary feed rolls 22 and 23.

It will be noted from the showing in FIG. 1 that the roll 35 is inengagement with the secondary feed roll 27 and the drive is transmittedfrom the primary feed roll 23 through the roll 35 to the secondary feedrolls 27 and 26. Thus, in this figure the web W is being fed through thesecondary feed rolls 26 and 27 and the primary feed rolls 22 and 23. Onthe other hand, it will be noted in FIG. 1 that roll 34 is spaced fromand is not in engagement with the secondary feed roll 24 and, therefore,no drive is transmitted to the secondary feed rolls 24 and 25.

The positions of the bell-crank levers and the rolls carried thereby aredetermined by the web, and the secondary feed rolls 24 and 25 and 26 and27 are constructed as shown in FIG. 2 so that when no web is passingtherebetween they can move into intermeshing relation, thus permittingmovement of the bell-crank levers. In FIG. 1 the secondary feed rolls 24and 25 are disposed in intermeshing relation, thus causing thebell-crank levers 31 to swing in an anticlockwise direction and at thesame time causing the roller 35 to transmit the drive from the primaryfeed roll 31 to the secondary feed rolls 26, 27. This is more fullyillustrated and described in applicants copending application abovereferred to.

The present invention has to do with the severing of the exhausted weband with control mechanism coordinating the severing mechanism with thecutter in the wrapping machine supplied by the splicing machine. Theexhausted web in FIG. 1 is designated W.

In the showing in FIG. 9 it will be noted that the supply roll 21 is thefull roll and the supply roll 20 is substantially exhausted. The web Wfrom the supply roll 20 passes beneath an idler roll 40 and between apair of rolls 41 and 42 which have spaced peripheral portions, as shownat 43 and 44, the spaces on one roll being disposed opposite ribs on theother roll so that they can move into intermeshing relation, as shown atthe left in FIG. 9. Under ordinary conditions and before the web isexhausted, the web passes between the rolls 43 and 44 and holds them inthe position shown at the right in FIG. 9 with the intermeshing portionsseparated. When the web is exhausted, however, these rolls 42 and 43move into intermeshing relation, swinging a bellcrank lever 45 on whichthe roll 44 is mounted in an anticlockwise direc-' tion. This lever ispivoted at 46 and the other end thereof, as shown at 47, engages andoperates a micro-switch 48. Lead lines 49 and 50 from a power main areconnected to the switch 48. The web W from the full supply roll 21extends over an idler 4t) and between rolls 42' and 41, the roll 42'being mounted on a bell-crank lever 45' pivoted at 46' and having itslower end 47 extending to a position to operate a switch 48. The rolls41' and 42' are constructed in the same manner as the rolls 41 and 42and are adapted to move into intermeshing relation when the web W isexhausted. The switch 48' is supplied with power through lead lines 49'and 50.

The switch 48 is connected by a wire 55 to a wire 56 and the switch 48is connected to the wire 56 by a wire 55'. The wire 56 is connected to amicro-switch 60 in a wrapping machine M supplied from the splicingmachine. When the circuit is closed through the switch 48 to the switch60, no power is transmitted therethrough, but this switch is controlledin its operation by a plunger 6.1, which in turn is controlled by a cam62 mounted on a knife shaft 63 which carries a rotating knife 64, whichin turn coacts with a knife blade 65 to cut the web of material receivedfrom the splicing machine. The knife shaft and knife mounted thereon areoperated continuously in the wrapping machine to cut the web intosheets, but their operation is controlled by suitable electric eyemechanism which insures the cutting of the web at the desired intervalsto properly position the printed matter disposed thereon. When the knifeshaft is rotated, the cam 62 will depress the plunger 61 and close thecircuit through the switch 60.

When the circuit is closed, power is transmitted through the switch to awire 70 which is connected by a wire 71 to a solenoid 72 and by a wire71' to a solenoid 72'. These solenoids control the operation of clampingmechanism for clamping the exhausted web and the operation of a tearblade which operates to perforate the web and to permit the feedingmeans for the exhausted web, such as the primary rollers 22 and 23, totear the web against the tear blade. For a more detailed illustration ofthe clamping means, tear blade, solenoid and operating connectionstherebetween, attention is directed particularly to FIGS. 3 to 7inclusive. It will be understood that the solenoids and clampingmechanism and tear blades for the two webs are exactly the same and theyare therefore designated by like reference characters, the referencecharacters relating to the exhausted web designating the parts relatingthereto and the reference characters for the other web being designatedby the same reference characters primed.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the web W is ledaround a roll 75, over a stationary plate 76, and around a roll 77 tothe auxiliary feed rolls 24 and 25. From the auxiliary feed rolls theweb passes between the primary feed rolls 22 and 23 and between feedrolls 78 and 79 into the wrapping machine M. The auxiliary feed rollsare omitted from the diagrammatic showing in FIG. 9.

A bracket 80 is pivoted on a spindle 81 on which the roll 75 is mounted,and the bracket 80 has secured thereto a clamping block 82 which isadapted to clamp the web against the back of the plate 76, as shown inFIG. 7. The bracket 80 also has on the end thereof a downwardlyextending hook-shaped portion 83, on which is mounted a tear blade 84having a serrated lower edge 85. After the web has been clamped by theblock 82, the continued pull on the web by the primary and secondaryfeed rolls will cause the web to tear against the blade 84.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive, which show the linkage at the rightin FIG. 9, the bracket 80 and the tear blade and clamping block carriedthereby are moved into operative position when the solenoid 72', viewingFIG. 9, is operated. The solenoid has a plunger 90', the upper end ofwhich is connected to a link 91', which is connected to a link 92'having a slot 93 in the end thereof. A pin 94 is mounted on an arm 95secured to the shaft 81 The arm 95 has mounted in the outer end thereofa stud or pin 96 which rests under normal conditions in a depression orgroove 97' formed in an arm 98 pivoted on a fixed stud 99. The arm 98 isalso pivoted to a pin 100 which pivotally connects the links 91' and92'.

It will be noted that the bracket and the arm 95' are both mounted onand secured to the shaft 81'. When the pin 96 on the outer end of thearm 95' rests in the depression 97, the bracket 80 and shaft 81' areheld against movement. However, when the solenoid 72' is energized, thuspulling down on the plunger the arm 98' will be moved in ananticlockwise direction, thus freeing the pin 96 from the depression97'. Further downward movement of the plunger 90" will pull the arm andthe bracket 80' to the position shown in FIG. 6, thus moving theclamping block 82 and tear blade 84' into the operative position shownin FIG. 7.

In view of the control of the switch 60 by the knife shaft through theplunger 61, the circuit through the solenoid cannot be established untilthe cam 62 on the knife blade shaft operates the plunger 61, and thiswill in turn control the circuit through the plunger and the operationof the clamping block and tear blade.

The switch 48 and the operation thereof by the arm 47 is illustratedmore fully in FIG. 8. From this figure it will be seen that the arm 47is provided with an adjustable set screw which engages a blade 106,which in turn engages a button or plunger 107 which closes the switch48. In order to permit manual operation of the switch 48 independent ofthe actuation of the bell-crank lever 47 in the manner described, a cam110 is mounted on a stud shaft 111 and can be rotated in ananticlockwise direction, viewing FIG. 8, by a handle 112. The cam isheld in retracted position by a spring 113 and is movable between limitstops 114 and 115 which are engageable by a lug 116 on the cam. Cam 110,as shown in FIG. 8, engages the blade 106 and presses this blade againstthe button or plunger 107 on the switch 48.

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that clamping andtearing mechanism is provided for clamping the trailing end of theexhausted web so that the feeding movement of the web will tear the webagainst the tear blade. When the tear blade is moved into the positionshown in FIG. 7, the serrated edge thereof will form a series ofperforations therein, facilitating the tearing of the web.

As hereinbefore explained, the movement of the clamp and tear blade tooperative position is controlled by the micro-switch 60, which in turnis controlled by a cam on the knife shaft of the wrapping machine, andthus the operation of the clamp and the tear blade are coordinated withthe operation of the cutter knife in the wrapping machine so that thetrailing end of the exhausted web will be torn at the right place andthe printed matter on the web and on the sheet cut in the wrappingmachine will be properly disposed. As explained above, the movement ofthe tear blade and clamp can also be controlled manually, if desired, bymeans of the operation of the cam 110.

In order to make the splice at such a point that the printed pattern onthe tail end of the exhausted web will be alined perfectly with theprinted pattern on the leading edge of the new supply roll, thefollowing factors are involved:

(a) There must be a fixed distance between the wrap ping machine cut-offknife and the tear off blade in the web splicer.

(b) The cam located on the wrapping machine knife shaft can be adjustedso that the web splicer tear blade will cut off at any desired locationon the printed pattern at the tail end of an exhausted roll.

(c) Once the position of the tail end cut-off is determined, and forexample by placing the leading pre-taped edge of a new supply roll at apermanent marked position in the web splicer and a trial splice is madewhich shows approximately a two inch overlap on the splice, then theleading edge of all new rolls placed into the web splicer will bepre-cut to a point on the printed pattern exactly two inches away fromthe automatic tail end off point and placed into the web splicer to thesame permanent marker. Then, when the splice is automatically made, theprinting on the tail end sheet will be alined with the printing on theleading sheet of the new roll.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularlyshown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capableof modification and that changes in the construction and in thearrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a web splicing machine, means in the splicing machinefor splicing a new web supply to the trailing end of an exhausted websupply, a wrapping machine, means for feeding the web from the splicingmachine to the wrapping machine, a cutter in the wrapping machine forcutting the web into sheets, means in the splicing machine for clampingthe trailing end of the exhausted web, a tear blade in the splicingmachine against which the web can be torn, detector means in thesplicing machine for controlling the operation of the clamp and tearblade, and means including electric circuits controlled by the operationof the knife in the wrapping machine operatively coupled to theoperation of the detector means for coordinating the operation of theclamp and tear blade to the operation of the wrapping machine knife.

2. In combination, a web splicing machine, means in the splicing machinefor splicing a new web supply to the trailing end of an exhausted websupply, a wrapping machine, means for feeding the Web from the splicingmachine to the wrapping machine, a cutter in the wrapping machine forcutting the web into sheets, means in the splicing machine for clampingthe trailing end of the exhausted web, a tear blade in the splicingmachine against which the Web can be torn, detector means in thesplicing machine for controlling the operation of the clamp and tearblade, and means including electric circuits and a solenoid controlledby the operation of the knife in the wrapping machine operativelycoupled to the operation of the detector means for coordinating theoperation of the clamp and tear blade to the operation of the wrappingmachine knife.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,724,426 11/1955Bell et al 156-159 3,065,782 11/1962 Vergobbi l56504 3,137,456 6/1964Weber et a1 24256 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

I. P. MELOCHE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A WEB SPLICING MACHINE, MEANS IN THE SPLICING MACHINEFOR SPLICING A NEW WEB SUPPLY TO THE TRAILING END OF AN EXHAUSTED WEBSUPPLY, A WRAPPING MACHINE, MEANS FOR FEEDING THE WEB FROM THE SPLICINGMACHINE TO THE WRAPPING MACHINE, A CUTTER IN THE WRAPPING MACHINE FORCUTTING THE WEB INTO SHEETS, MEANS IN THE SPLICING MACHINE FOR CLAMPINGTHE TRAILING END OF THE EXHAUSTED WEB, A TEAR BLADE IN THE SPLICINGMACHINE AGAINST